Then it started all over again! On 6 February 2009, six weeks after the vlei had dried up, it started filling again. Good rains in the catchment area filled the vlei within four days. Birding kicked off with Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa and ten Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida, amongst others. The depth of the water ruled out waders, as areas around the edge of the vlei that had had no water before now had dense vegetation inundated with water. The rains persisted during February. Heavy rains in the catchment area kept pushing water in. During the first week of March 2009 water in the vlei was still above the normal level. Few birds were seen as such a vast area was covered by water that the birds had many options.